Student performers required for Shebeen

Wednesday 2nd May 2018

We are seeking a number of male drama students of playing ages 18-30 and of African or Caribbean heritage to join us for Shebeen, a new play written by award winning writer Mufaro Makubika and directed by Matthew Xia. Performers must be comfortable with learning and performing choreographed dance and movement and will act as the party guests in the Shebeen, dancing and possibly even delivering a very few lines.

This is a brilliant paid opportunity for a student to gain experience performing in a main stage production at a major regional theatre.

About Shebeen

Winner of the 2017 Alfred Fagon Award

“Do you think dreams are wasted on people like us?”

It’s a hot and humid summer in 1958 St Ann’s, Nottingham. Tempers are flaring and militant Teddy Boys are on the march. Jamaican couple Pearl and George are helping Caribbean migrants to cut loose by hosting a forbidden party at their shebeen.

Pearl has dreams of opening a restaurant on the Wells Road. George, a retired boxer, has hung his dreams next to his gloves. A young interracial couple are falling in love and figuring out how to be together. As tensions mount on a night filled with rum, calypso and dancing, and with the shebeen under threat from the police, everyone is forced to confront the uncomfortable truths their relationships are built upon.

Specially commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse, Shebeen invites you to a party you never knew existed. This world premiere by Nottingham writer, Mufaro Makubika, shines a light on the Windrush generation: a community under siege and the sacrifices made for love.

Application details

• You must be 18+ and have the right to work in the UK.
• You don’t need to be a dancer, but you must be comfortable with movement.
• You must be a current student on a UK based accredited drama, theatre, musical theatre or dance course.

The rate of pay is £10.12 per hour. We can also provide proof of your involvement if helpful. We are unable to offer accommodation, and as such applicants must have a base in Nottingham, or nearby, where they are comfortable staying during the rehearsal and performance period.

You must be available to audition on the morning/early afternoon of WEDNESDAY 9 MAY in Nottingham (venue tbc). We may be able to accommodate auditions in the next week (w/c 14 May) – please just get in touch and let us know if that works better for you.

You must also be available for the performance and rehearsal dates outlined below – if you are unavailable for any of them please let us know in your email:

Rehearsals

You will be needed for a few daytime and evening rehearsals in Nottingham over the period w/c 14 May 2018 – 1 June 2018 including, but not limited to:

Tuesday 29 May (evening)

Wednesday 30 May (evening)

Thursday 31 May (evening, dress rehearsal)

Friday 1 June (afternoon, dress rehearsal)

When applying please mention any dates in this period that you are unavailable.